Cristina Talacko
CEO
Cristina has more than 20 years of experience in executive boards and management of not-for-profit associations. She is a former director on the board of the Export Council of Australia, DFAT Council on Australia Latin America Relations and is currently on the board of Multicultural NSW. She is also a director on various energy & renewables boards such as the Advisory Committee of Endeavour Energy, the Advisory Board of Viridios Capital, an asset management and advisor on sustainable development assets and she is a director of the think-tank Beyond Zero Emissions. She was Vice President of NSW Women’s Council and Secretary of the NSW Energy and Environment Policy Branch. Cristina is an entrepreneur having founded SalDoce Fine Foods, manufacturing allergen-sensitive foods to the Australian and export markets and was the winner of the NSW Export Awards in 2016 and 2018 and the 2019 NSW Small Business Award. Cristina is on the board of the charitable organisation One Meal - It Makes a Difference, is a benefactor of the Art Gallery of NSW and has recently completed the Executive Program Women & Power at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She is passionate about the environment, female empowerment and diversity and has a corporate legal background having graduated with an LLB - Bachelor of Law from the University of London and a Graduate Diploma in Corporate Law and Governance from the University of Sydney.
Hon. Larry Anthony AO
Chair
Larry Anthony is the former Federal President of the Australian National Party and founding Director of the Government Relations and Media Advisory, SAS Group. Prior to his commercial career, he was a Federal Minister, serving in the Howard Government. He held numerous Ministries in the areas of Social Security, including Children and Youth Affairs, and Community Services, and was Assistant Minister for Trade.
David Nixon
Treasurer
David is a Company Director, Board and Executive Advisor, Strategic Planning and Facilitator. David has 35 years of experience across multinationals, utilities, councils, and small businesses in numerous roles including director, board advisor, chief executive, chief operating officer, consultant, and business advisor. David has expertise across the Australian Water Sector and has had significant involvement in the renewable space in NSW. David has board roles with Stormwater Sydney, Gerald and Rose and Chairs the NSW Liberal Parties Audit and Governance Committee. David provides consulting services through his business Nixon Clarity. David holds a Master of Business Administration & Master of Environmental Business Management from Newcastle University, A Bachelor of Engineering Science from UTS, and Strategic Leadership from Oxford University.
Kerry Chikarovski
Kerry Chikarovski is a former NSW Liberal Leader and first woman to lead a major political party in New South Wales.
She is also the founder and Director of Chikarovski & Associates, a government relations, community engagement and stakeholder relations consultancy, which she founded in 2003, whose expertise spans a wide range of industries including financial, government, community, property and technology startups.
Knowing the ins and outs of working with the government and its departments, has seen her assist a wide range of clients achieve success in circumstances where bureaucracy has been challenging to navigate. Removing these roadblocks via sound policy and strategic approach is what Kerry is widely known for in the industry.
Kerry holds a number of non-executive board roles including Our Watch and Tender Loving Cuisine Australia. She is the Chair of NSW Women’s Rugby Union, an ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, and a mentor with the Minerva Network, supporting professional sportswomen on and off the field.
Kerry can be seen and heard regularly as a media commentator across national television and radio channels including Sky News, ABC Weekend Breakfast, 2GB Radio, ABC The Drum and Channel 7 Sunrise.
Sarah Lawley
Sarah is an experienced energy industry professional who has held a range of executive positions within the energy and resources sector. She has managed the renewable energy portfolios and retail load portfolios of several electricity companies within Australia. With over 20 years of experience in industry, Sarah has a wealth of knowledge in energy markets, financial risk management, project development and sustainability. Sarah holds a PhD in Subatomic Physics from the University of Adelaide and is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Energy.